Simple Empirical Order Parameter for a First-Order Quantum Phase Transition in Atomic Nuclei

Journal Article · Fri Apr 11 00:00:00 EDT 2008 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.100.142501· OSTI ID:21123852

Bonatsos, Dennis ^[1]; McCutchan, E A; Casten, R F; Casperson, R J ^[2]

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1. Institute of Nuclear Physics, National Center for Scientific Research 'Demokritos', GR-15310 Aghia Paraskevi, Attiki (Greece)
2. Wright Nuclear Structure Laboratory, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520 (United States)

A simple, empirical, easy-to-measure effective order parameter of a first-order phase transition in atomic nuclei is presented, namely, the ratio of the energies of the first excited 6{sup +} and 0{sup +} states, distinguishing between first- and second-order transitions, and taking on a special value in the critical region, as data in Nd-Dy show. In the large N{sub B} limit of the interacting boson approximation model, a repeating degeneracy between alternate yrast and successive 0{sup +} states is found in the critical region around the line of a first-order phase transition, pointing to a possible underlying symmetry.

• OSTI ID: 21123852
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 100, Issue 14; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.142501; (c) 2008 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
APPROXIMATIONS
DYSPROSIUM
INTERACTING BOSON MODEL
NEODYMIUM
ORDER PARAMETERS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
SYMMETRY